Cops: Drug addict beat his grandma

William Bender and Stephanie Farr

An Upper Darby man allegedly abused his wheelchair-bound grandmother and at times, disabled her electronic stair chair so he could smoke crack without being bothered, police said.

Upper Darby police responded to the Westpark Lane house where Edward Malm, 40, lives with his 87-year-old grandmother around 8 p.m. last night after receiving complaints that the house was unkempt and there was possibly abuse occurring inside, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

Edward Malm

Once inside, police and health inspectors found the 87-year-old woman, who is confined to a wheelchair, in her bedroom in the basement of the house. Chitwood said she told police that her grandson smacks her around and mistreats her. She also said that on occasion, he will disable her stair chair lift - her only way of getting out of the basement - so he can party without being interrupted, Chitwood said.